Did you know that there are around 700,000 personal injury claims filed in the United States each year? While the majority of personal injury claims stem from lawsuits filed after car accidents, there are several different reasons why someone might file a personal injury claim. Learn more about the other types of personal injury claims that can be filed.

Medical Malpractice

In 2012, more than $3 billion was spent on payouts for medical malpractice lawsuits, but medical malpractice lawsuits only make up approximately 15 percent annual personal injury claims. You can file a medical malpractice claim if you've received negligent care. However, it's important to remember that a medical problem resulting in a bad outcome isn't always a sign of malpractice. In order to file a claim, the medical provider's negligence must have resulted in further harm to the patient.

Slip and Fall Accidents

If you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you can file a personal injury claim if your fall was caused by negligence of the property's owner. For example, if you slip on a wet floor in a store and were injured, you could file a personal injury lawsuit if the store failed to place a sign in the area warning patrons that the floor was wet. While most people think about slip-and-fall accidents happening in a public place, accidents can occur on residential property as well. For example, if you didn't remove snow and ice from your walkway, and it caused someone visiting your home to fall and become injured, that person could sue you for the cost of medical bills.

Dog Bites

It's the dog owner's responsibility to ensure a dog doesn't attack someone. If the owners don't ensure the safety of those around their dog, and their dog bites someone, it's possible for the owner to be sued for negligence. This is why dog owners should always keep their pets in secure yards, post "Beware of Dog" signs if their dog isn't good with strangers or children, and always keep their dogs on leashes when outside of a secured area. By taking these precautions, the chances your dog will bite someone is minimal.

Personal injury claims cover a variety of different types of accidents. However, they all have something in common -- the injury or harm was caused by someone's negligence. So, if you're planning to file a personal injury claim, ask yourself whether your injury could have been prevented if someone had been more responsible. If so, there's a good chance you'll be able to file a personal injury claim. Contact a lawyer, such as James Lee Katz, for more information.   

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